by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Defeat for Caroline Kumahara but it was the only upset as semi-final places were decided; however, for Gui Lin, like Caroline Kumahara and Bruna Takahashi from Brazil, there was a close call.

Occupying the no.2 seeded position in the competition; she have to stave off a brave fight-back by Chile’s Paulina Vega, before emerging successful by the very minimal two point margin in the deciding seventh game (11-8, 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 9-11, 8-11, 14-12).

Success for Gui Lin and to some extent it was defeat avenged. At the GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Brazil Open and the following year at the ITTF Latin America Cup, Gui Lin had emerged successful but in their two most recent meetings in World ranking events, the decision had gone the way of Paulina Vega.

Last year in the Women’s Team event at the ITTF Latin American Championships and at the ITTF Latin America Cup, the decision had gone in favour of Paulina Vega.

A semi-final place reserved in dramatic style; for Romania’s Bernadette Szocs, the top seed and for Audrey Zarif of France, the no.4 seed, life was less fraught.

Both accounted for Brazilian opposition, Bernadette Szocs beat Livia Lima (6-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-4, 11-8); Audrey Zarif overcame Martina Kohatsu (11-2, 11-4, 11-6, 16-14).

In the penultimate round Bernadette Szocs meets Bruna Takahashi, Audrey Zarif opposes Gui Lin; the matches will be played later in the day.